Discharge controlling means for fluid medium under pressure



R. w. BOWMAN ET'AL 2,926,731 DISCHARGE CONTROLLING mums FOR FLUID MEDIUM UNDER PRESSURE Filed Nov. 14, 1957 March 1, 1960 l6) 1 t WI'NVENZ'QRS a BY gang 1. K

United States Patent DI SCHARGE CONTROLLING MEANS FOR FLUID ll/[EDIUM UNDER PRESSURE Robert W. Bowman, Oradell, Arduino Riuli, Clifton, and

George I. Schrank, Teaneck, N..l., assi nors to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 14, 1957, Serial No. 696,459

7 Claims. (Cl. 169--31) The present invention relates to discharge controlling means for fluid medium under pressure confined in the receptacle of a fire extinguisher and like apparatus including discharge directing means such as a horn, nozzle or shield mounted on the apparatus, and, more particularly, an improved arrangement for preventing the opening of the discharge valve unless the horn or the like is first removed from the apparatus.

In United States Patent No. 2.489.339. an arrangement of this kind is disclosed wherein the horn is provided with structure for locking the valve operating handle against movement unless the horn is first removed from its supporting bracket. Such an arrangement is feasible where the valve operating handle is a lever'or includes a lever system which is ex osed at a point adjacent the horn bracket to enable the horn to physically engage a part thereof to lock the same against operation.

The present invention, however. is concerned with providing a. valve locking arrangement wh re the lever or lever system is located remotely to the horn bracket or is so shrouded that no part thereof is accessible for engagement by the horn or the like.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve locking arrangement for apparatus where the lever or lever system is of the last mentioned type.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which does not require special structure on the horn or the like.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which is concealed and is inaccessible while the horn is on its bracket, whereby tampering is prevented.

Another object is to provide a rugged lock for the valve operating lever which positively resists operation of the lever even when a great force is applied to the lever.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement which is automatic in operation.

Another object is to provide such an arrargement which enables the valve to be locked in an open position.

A further object is to accomplish the foregoing in a simple, practical and economical manner.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a fire extinguisher, partly in elevation and partly in section, equipped with a valve locking arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the '7 line 2-2 on Fig. 1 illustrating the position of the lock "ice ing member when the horn is removed from its bracket.

Referring to the drawing in detail, there is shown a fire extinguisher by way of example which generally comprises a receptacle 10 adapted to confine fluid medium under pressure, a valve 11 at the upper end of the re ceptacle, a discharge directing horn 12 connected to the outlet of the valve by a hose 14, a valve operating lever 15, a shroud or housing 16 mounted at the upper end of the receptacle and provided with a carrying handle 17 and serving to enclose the valve and its lever and to mount a lever operating trigger 19, a supporting bracket 20 for the horn, and a member 21 for locking the lever in the manner described hereinafter.

The valve 11, as shown herein, comprises a body 22 having an inlet 23 provided with a valve seat 24 and an outlet 25, a valve member 26 for the seat having a stem 27 extending upwardly through the valve body, and a spring 28 biased between the valve body and a flange 29 secured to the stern adjacent its upper end. A syphon tube 30 is connected to the inlet of the valve and extend d to the bottom of the receptacle.

The valve operating lever 15 is pivotally mounted on the valve body at 31, and has a short arm 32 which extends across the valve stem to engage the upper end thereof and has a long arm 34 which extends outwardly to a position beneath the trigger 19.

The trigger is mounted for vertical movement at one side .of 'the shroud by a rod 35 extending through a bearing 36 and having its lower end connected to the outer end of the arm 34, whereby upward movement of the trigger will cause the arm 34 to be raised and the a m 32 to depress the valve stem and effect unseating of the valve member.

The bracket 20 is secured to the shroud at the side opposite the trigger, and as shown is a U-shaped clip 37 adapted to grip the handle of the horn having a lip or projection 38 at its lower end on which the nut of the handle is adapted to rest. The clip has a slot or recess 39 at its upper end for receiving the outer end of the member 21 in the manner about to be described (Fig. 2).

The member 21 is slidably mounted in a bearing 40 on the shroud above the side of the valve body facing the bracket. The outer end of this member extends through the opening 41 in the shroud adjacent the slot 39 and the inner end extends under the free end of the arm 32 to prevent downward movement thereof when the horn is in its bracket and the handle of the horn urges the member 21 inwardly. In order to move the member outwardly to release the lever arm 32 when the horn is removed from its bracket, a spring 42 is biased between the outer side of the bearing 40 and a flange 44 on the member 21 spaced inwardly from the inner wall of the shroud where the opening 41 is provided. This flange, in addition to biasing the spring 42, acts as a stop to limit the extent of outward movement of the member 21 when the horn is removed from its bracket.

The assembly of the member 21 and the spring 42 is facilitated by making the member in two pieces, namely,

a rod or shaft 45 and a cap 46 secured to the outer end of the rod which carries the flange 44.

In operation, with the fire extinguisher in stand-by condition as shown in Fig. l, the horn handle holds the member 21 inwardly so that the inner end extends under the lever arm 32 and the spring 42 is compressed. When the horn is removed from its bracket, the spring 42 moves the member 21 outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to release the lever arm. Now, as the trigger is pulled upwardly, the lever arm 32 is free to depress the valve stem and unseat the valve whereby the contents of the receptacle are discharged through the horn.

If desired, the valve can be locked in its open position by manually engaging the outer end of the member 21 and pushing it inwardly to extend over the arm 32 and hold it down in opposition to the force of the valve spring 23. Bytmaking the spring 28 sufliciently strong to eflect a good friction grip between the inner end of the member 21 and the arm 32, the force of the spring 42 tending to retract the member is overcome. After the extinguisher has been discharged, the trigger is squeezed hard to move the arm down a short distance whereby the friction grip is destroyed and the member 21 is freed for outward movement under the influence of its spring 42.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, practical and economical locking arrangement for the valve of fire extinguishers and the like which is controlled by positioning and removal of the discharge directing means. The locking elements are compactly arranged, are light in Weight and yet are sufficiently rugged to withstand such rough usage to which they may normally be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Discharge controlling means for a receptacle adapted to contain fluid medium under pressure comprising a valve, manually engageable means operable to open said valve including a lever having an arm for unseating said valve upon downward movement thereof, fluid medium directing means connected to the outlet of said valve, a casing secured to said valve, bracket means on said casing for supporting said fluid medium directing means, a member movably mounted within said casing having one end positioned for engagement and movement by said fluid medium directing means when supported by said bracket means whereby its other end is positioned to extend under said arm and restrict said valve operating means against downward movement to prevent operation thereof, and means arranged for moving said member towards said directing means and from beneath said arm to render the same ineffective to prevent operation of said valve opening means when said fluid medium directing means is removed from said bracket means.

2. Discharge controlling means for a receptacle adapted to contain fluid medium under pressure comprising a valve, a lever having an arm operable to open said valve upon downward movement thereof, a fluid medium directing horn having a hose connected to the outlet of said valve, a casing secured to said valve, a bracket on said casing for supporting said horn, a slidably mounted rod within said casing having one end positioned for engagement by said horn when supported by said bracket and having its other end positioned to engage under said arm and restricting said arm against downward movement to prevent operation thereof when said horn is supported by said bracket, and a spring for moving said rod towards said horn and from beneath said arm to render the same ineffective to prevent operation of said valve opening arm when said horn is removed from said bracket.

3. Discharge controlling means for a receptacle adapted to contain fluid medium under pressure comprising a valve, a shroud for enclosing said valve including a carryhandle and having a side opening and a bearing in alignment with said opening, a lever having an arm operable to open said valve upon downward movement thereof, a fluid medium directing horn having a hose connected to the outlet of said valve, a bracket on said shroud for supporting said horn adjacent said opening, a rod member slidably mounted in said bearing having one end extending through said opening for engagement by said horn when supported by said bracket and having its other end positioned under said arm and restricting said arm against downward movement to prevent operation of said arm when said horn is supported by said bracket, and a spring for moving said member outwardly with respect to said opening and from beneath said arm to render the same ineffective to prevent operation of said valve opening arm when said horn is removed from said bracket.

4. Discharge controlling means for a receptacle adapted to contain fluid medium under pressure comprising a valve, a shroud for enclosing said valve including a carrying handle and having a side opening and a bearing in alignment with said opening, a lever having an arm operable to open said valve upon downward movement thereof, a fluid medium directing horn having a hose connected to the outlet of said valve, a bracket on said shroud for supporting said horn adjacent said opening, a rod member slidably mounted in said bearing having one end extending through said opening for engagement by said horn when supported by said bracket and having its other end positioned under said arm and restricting said arm against downward movement to prevent operation of said arm when said horn is supported by said bracket, and a compression spring for moving said member outwardly with respect to said opening and from beneath said arm to render the same ineffective to prevent operation of said valve opening arm when said horn is removed from said bracket, said member having a flange thereon to limit the outward movement thereof and said spring being biased between said flange and said bearing.

5. Discharge controlling means for a receptacle adapted to contain fluid medium under pressure comprising a valve, means operable to open said valve including a lever having an arm for unseating said valve upon downward movement thereof, fluid medium directing means connected to the outlet of said valve, a casing secured to said valve, bracket means on said casing for supporting said fluid medium directing means having an aperture adjacent thereto, a slidably mounted rod member, a bearing for said member in alignment with said aperture, said rod member having one end extending through said aperture for engagement by said fluid medium directing means when supported by said bracket means and having its other end positioned to extend under said arm and restrict said valve operating means against downward movement to prevent operation thereof when said horn is supported by said bracket, and having a flange thereon for limiting its outward movement with respect to said aperture and a compression spring biased between said flange and said bearing for moving said member from beneath said arm to render the same ineffective to prevent operation of said valve opening means when said fluid medium directing means is removed from said bracket means.

6. Discharge controlling means for a receptacle adapted to contain fluid medium under pressure comprising a valve including a valve member having a stem for unseating the same, means operable to open said valve including a lever havingan arm for engaging and depressing said stem to unseat said valve member, fluid medium directing means connected to the outlet of said valve, bracket means for supporting said fluid medium directing means, a slidably mounted member having one end positioned for engagement by said fluid medium directing means when supported by said bracket means and having its other end extending under said arm to prevent the same from depressing said valve member stem whereby opening of the valve is prevented, and means for moving said member to release said arm when said directing means is removed from said bracket means, the end of said member engaged by said directing means being accessible when said directing means is so removed to permit manual operation thereof to cause the other end of said member to extend above said arm when said valve member is unseated and thereby lock said valve member in its unseated position.

7. Discharge controlling means for a receptacle adapted to contain fluid medium under pressure comprising a valve including a valve member having a stem for unseating the same and a spring for resisting unseating of said valve member, means operableto open said valve including a lever having an arm for engaging and depressing said stem to unseat said valve member, fiuid medium directing means connected to the outlet of said valve, bracket means for supporting said fluid medium directing means, a slidably mounted member having one end positioned for engagement by said fluidmedium directing means when supported by said bracket means and having its other end extending under said arm to prevent the same from depressing said valve member stem whereby opening of the valve is prevented, and

spring means for moving said member to release said arm when said directing means is removed from said bracket means, the end of said member engaged by 6 r said directing means being accessible when said directing means is so removed to permit manual operation thereof to cause the other end of said member to extend above said arm when said valve member is unseated and thereby lock said valve member in its unseated position, said spring exerting a suificient force on said arm when said valve member is unseated to cause said arm to engage said member with suflicient force to overcome the force exerted by said spring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,885,472 Paone Nov. 1, 1932 1,901,504 Fulton Mar. 14, 1933 2,489,339 Stroop Nov. 29, 1949 2,580,448 Mapes et a1. Jan. 1, 1952 2,668,680 Moser Feb. 9, 1954 2,743,079 Sills Apr. 24, 1956 2,760,587 Austin Aug. 28, 1956 

